Piano-action



S. R. PERRY.

PIANO ACTION.

No. 406,405. Patented July 2, 1889 (No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

S. R. PERRY.

I I PIANO ACTION. No. 406,405. Patented July 2, 1889.

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was 6 a UNITED STATES PATENJLQEFICE.

SAMUEL R. PERRY, OF VVILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PIANO-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,405, dated July 2,1889.

Application filed December 8, 1888- Serial No. 293,011. (No model.)

.To all 1072,0771, it ntay concern.

Be it known that I, SAMUEL RrPERRY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at IVilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPiano-Actions, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to piano-forte actions, and may be appliedto horizontal or upright pianos, with slight mechanical modifications tosuit the position of each style; and it has for its object, first, tocheapen the construction thereof by dispensing with several parts usualto other forms of piano-actions; secondly, to make it more responsive tothe touch, producing a better repetition of stroke in rapid executionthirdly, to make each stroke a mechanical certainty by having each andevery part directly connected one to the other; fourthly, to make a moredurable and wearable action and one that will require less labor andfrequency of adjustment.

To these ends the nature of the invention consists of the combinationsof parts, including their construction, substantially as hereinafterfully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a view in sideelevation of my improved piano-forte action. Fig. 2 is a modificationthereof. Fig. 3 is another modification of the same.

In constructing my invention I employ, in connection with the key A, asusual, the regulating-block B, the latter being connected to the formerby means of screws in the ordinary manner. This block is used toregulate the dip of the key A.

O is a pitman or rod, flexibly connected or jointed to the inner end ofthe key, as at a, by a leather hinge or otherwise.

In a slot in the pitman or rod 0 is pivoted the outer or lower end of anarm D, the inner or upper end of the arm having thereon a pin orprojection 19, which enters an aperture in the lower end of thedamper-lever E. From this it will be seen that when the key A is pressedupon, it will cause arm D to force the damper away from the piano-stringto allow free vibration of the latter, while the key is held in itsdepressed position.

The damper-lever E has the usual pivotal connection with the piano-forterail F. The pitman or rod 0 is pivoted at its extreme upper end in ahorizontal bar or lever G, intermediately of the ends of said lever orbar. The outer end of the lever or bar G is pivoted in the slotted lowerend of an arm or flange d, applied toarail H of the piano-forte. Therail H also supports a regulating checkscrewI, having a cushioned blockI, the function of which will appear farther on.

To the pivoted bar or lever G is connected a short link J, which in turnis connected to the lower end of a long link K, having its upper endconnected or pivoted to the hamm erbutt L.

The hammer-butt L may be pivoted to a flange e of the rail F, orotherwise adjusted in position.

It will thus be seen that I form a perfectly continuous connectionbetween the keyA and the hammer-butt L.

It will also be seen that the links J and K are substituted in lieu ofseveral parts as used in the ordinary piano-forte. They combine theoffices of the jack, checkwlamper, and tapes or bridles, and form aconnection between all the parts, thus causing the action of the key toimpart its force to every part simultaneously and instantly without lossof motion.

To the rail F is connected one end of a suitable spring f, the oppositeend of the latter being applied to the link K. The link K carries aregulating screw and block 0, which acts upon a post or arm P of thelever G, for throwing the small link J outwardly past a perpendicularline passing through the pivotal point between said link and lever, thusunlocking the stroke at a given or desired point in the movement.

The operation is as follows: When the key A is pressed by the finger, itacts upon the pitman or rod G, and the latter acts upon the arm D,removing the damper away from the string. Simultaneously the links K andJ are lifted, moving the hammer away from the hammer-rail Q and throwingit against the piano-string R. As the hammer comes within a shortdistance of the string, the short link J is carried outward beyond theaforesaid perpendicular line, by means of the post P coming in contactwith the regulating-block O, throwing the link K against theregulating-block I, thus holding the link K firmly and the hammer in thedesired position to allow the free vibration of the piano-string, thekey being held in its depressed position. The regulating-screws O and Iare for adj usting the distance between the hammer and the piano-string,while the spring f has the ellect to bring the links K and J intoposition immediately after the removal of the finger from the key A. Asthe short link J is intended to unlock the hammer where desired, it isnot essential that it shall be applied to the lower end of the link K,as a similar result may be had by its application to the other end ofsaid latter link and to the hammer-butt, by suitably rearranging thescrews for unlocking the links. I therefore do notrestrict myself to thefirst described or preferred form of carrying out my invention as theonly way of practicing it.

In the above-referred-to modification, as disclosed in Fig. 2, I haveshown a cushioned seat applied to the lever or bar G for the link K torest on, and a pin passing through the lower part of the link to steadyits motion, so that when the post P is pressed against theregulating-block 0 it will cause the link K to slide off the cushionedseat of the lever G, and thus unlock the hammer at any desired point, asbefore mentioned in the capacity of the ordinary jack, which is avariety of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3 I show another variety of the same mode of disconnecting orunlocking the link K by means of a small pulley w, pivoted withintheregulating-block B, so as to have the link K roll over the center orpivot at the proper time,when the regulatii'lg-screw 0 may come incontact with a similar pulley :0, secured to a rail, as shown.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The piano-forte actionhaving the links J and K, connected to the hammer-butt, and arm G,pivoted to the pitman of the key, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

2. The piano-action having the arm G, pivoted upon the key-pitman, postI, applied to said arm, and the link J, connecting said arm to the linkK, connecting with the hammerbutt L and acting upon the cushionedregulating screw I, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

The piano-forte action having the spring f, connected to the link K,substantially as set forth.

l; The piano-forte action having the links J and K, combined with thearm or lever G, the pitman O, and arm 1), for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I allix my si gn at u re in presence of twowitnesses.

SAMUE L R. PERRY.

lVitnesses:

PHILIP ONEILL, J. R. Penny.

